Improvement in carriage-curtain fastenings



J. WOODS Jr. Carriage-Curtain Fastening.

Patented Nov. 26,1878.-

EQQQQQ WITNESSES: INV ENT OR N. PETERS. PHQTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlOE...

JAMES WOODS, JR, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-CURTAIN FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,389, dated November 26, 1878; application filed March 16, 1877.

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES WOODS, Jr., of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourtain-Fastenings; and I do hereby declare that the following specificatiomtaken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a true, clear, and complete description thereof.

My invention consists of a slotted standard, in which is. hinged a lever or catch operated by a spring. This catch, pivoted or hinged near the top and back of the slot in the standard and held out by a spring, projects beyond the top and side opening of the slot in the standard, its lever end pressing against the inner side of the button-hole or grommet in the curtain, while its top forms an oscillating head-piece to the standard, by means of which the catch is operated, as is more fully described hereinafter.

I prefer to use a spiral spring to operate the catch. For the purpose of locating the spring, which has a diameter greater than the slot, 1 enlarge the opposite sides of the slot, so as to receive the spring at an acute angle to the back side of the slot.

When the catch is adjusted to the standard by applying pressure to its top, which forms an oscillating head-piece to the standard, the catch itself is operated without any inconvenience in disengaging the grommet.

Hinging the catch near the top and back of the slot and inserting the spiral spring at an angle, as described, the lower portion of the catch projects sufficiently beyond the standard to hold the curtain securely in place. At the base of the standard is a shoulder, beneath which may extend a screw or rivet, so that the standard may be conveniently attached to a carriage-body, or any article to which it may be desirable to apply the same.

In operating, the grommet is slipped onto the standard, and pressed down until it reaches its shoulder, when the spiral spring forces the catch laterally and keeps the grommet in position until it is desired to remove it again from the standard, when it only becomes necessary to press the head of the catch and slip the grommet off.

Curtain fastenings have been heretofore made and sold having a spring-catch projecting from a hollow cap or cylinder, the catch not extending through the top of. the cap, and being pivoted at its front. The objectionable features of such fastenings are that they are expensive, and are also inconvenient, for the reason that the grommet cannot be disengaged except by pressing upon the catch at a point in its front and immediately above the grommet, and this interposes a great obstacle to the easy disengaging the grommet.

I make no claim to any particular form of grommet. My invention will be practicable and effective with a simple button-hole in the place of the metallic grommet.

To more particularly describe my invention Iwill now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents, in side view, one of my curtain-fastenings applied to the pillar of a carriage and the curtain fastened by it. Fig.

2 represents,-in top view, a portion of a curtain with its grommet or button-hole. Fig. 3 represents, in central vertical section, one of the fastenings with the catch open to engage the grommet of the curtain. Fig. 4 represents, in central vertical section, one of the fastenings with the catch closed to disengage the grommet. Figs. 3 and 4 also show the method of locating the spiral spring t an acute angle to the back side of the slot. Figs. 5 and 6 show two methods of securing the fastening to flexible articles, such as satchels and straps on dasher-flaps.

A denotes the standard. For economy it is preferably made in one solid piece, and a slot is milled out extending from top to base, and curved at the lower back side, as shown by the heavy black line in Figs. 3 and 4. a denotes the shoulder of the standard, beneath which (for the purpose of attaching the standard to any article) may extend a screw, as in Fig. 3, a bolt and nut, as in Fig. 5, or a rivet,

as in Fig. 6.

0 denotes the catch, which is hinged in the standard at the top and back of the slot, as at 0, so that its top will form an oscillating head-piece to the standard and its lower portion project to engage the grommet. 8 denotes the spiral spring, which operates the catch, and is placed in the recesses formed in the opposite sides of the slot at an angle to the back side of the slot.

0 denotes the curtain, an edge View of which is shown in Fig. 1. In actual use, the curtain will lie up close against the shoulder of the standard. In Fig. 1 it is shown at some distance from the shoulder, in order to more clearly show the catch projecting beyond the standard throughout its entire length from top to base-a feature which is entirely novel, and is of especial practical service in that it presses against the grommet, so as to prevent its rattling or playing back and forth upon the standard.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentforth. I

JAMES WOODS, JR. WVitnesses:

EDWARD E. ELLIs, ALEX. 1t. NELsoN. 

